Pope Wins Big At PCA Awards!

Friday, 5 October 2018 10:57:24 Europe/London

GM would like to extend huge congratulations to our very own Young Gunn, Ollie Pope, who last night was awarded the Natwest PCA Young Player of the Year award.

In the County Championship, Pope scored 986 runs from just 16 innings, averaging a Bradman-esque 70.42 as his Surrey side stormed to the Championship Title, losing just one match along the way. He finished with a fantastic hundred, his fourth of the year, against Essex to round off an incredible summer.

Pope’s fairy tale 2018 season culminated in a call-up to England’s Test Match squad against India in August playing in the second and third Tests of the 4-1 series win, making an assured 28 in his debut innings.

"We're delighted for Ollie who follows a long line of previous winners who have gone on to achieve great things in the game,” Thomas Coffey, GM Cricket Marketing Manager, said. “Ollie's phenomenal rise to prominence has really gathered pace in the last twelve months, and we're all extremely excited to watch him develop further, and his career continuto flourish.”

Winning the PCA Young Player of the Year means Pope has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes who have all previously won the award.

He added; “Voted for by his fellow professionals, this a deserved and fitting way to cap off a wonderful 2018 season for him. Congratulations, Ollie, from everyone at GM."

The 20-year-old’s dream season has also been rewarded with another Test call-up for the forthcoming series in Sri Lanka, where he will joined by fellow GM teammates Ben Stokes and his Surrey captain Rory Burns.

"It's a special year, whether that be getting my call-up or more importantly, winning the Championship and contributing in that successful side," Pope said. "It's obviously an exciting time for county cricket and this country in general. It's incredibly special and this makes it even more special. Coming from players we play against is awesome."

Pope was not the only GM winner on the night as four GM players were named in the Greene King Team of the Year; Lancashire’s Alex Davies and Dane Vilas, Hampshire’s James Vince and Pope’s Surrey teammate Burns, who was also named as captain of the side.

Greene King Team of the Year: Rory Burns - captain (Surrey), Alex Davies (Lancashire), Joe Denly (Kent), Ian Bell (Warwickshire/Birmingham Bears), James Vince (Hampshire), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Dane Vilas - wicketkeeper (Lancashire), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Ed Barnard (Worcestershire), Matt Henry (Kent), Morne Morkel (Surrey)Pope was not the only GM winner on the night as four GM players were named in the Greene King Team of the Year; Lancashire’s Alex Davies and Dane Vilas, Hampshire’s James Vince and Pope’s Surrey teammate Burns, who was also named as captain of the side.